Chapter 3

Mirelle's POV

As soon as Caspian stepped into the courtyard of Queenshall, he froze.

There I was, on my hands and knees, chewing at the grass in the garden.

The servants knelt behind me, their foreheads pressed to the paving stones in terror.

His eyes were ice cold as he stared at me.

"Mirelle, what the hell are you doing?" His voice was low and lethal.

"You are the future Queen, not some wild horse."

He grabbed my wrist and lifted me right off the ground.

"Are you out of your mind? Kneeling in the dirt, grazing like a wild animal for the whole palace to watch... Are you trying to humiliate me on purpose?"

His iron grip sent sharp spikes of agony up my arm.

I flinched, looking up at him with wide, terrified eyes.

"I'm hurt," I whispered.

The frostbane poison have triggered again.

It felt like fire ants were chewing their way through my bones.

When Caspian saw my tear-filled eyes, the hostility in his expression cracked slightly.

"Get the royal healer. Now," he barked at the servants.

Before anyone could move to obey, Lysette stepped into the courtyard, blocking the way out.

"Your Majesty," she said, her voice dripping with sympathetic sweetness. "Can't you see? My sister is just throwing a tantrum. She just wants you to spend time with her."

She stepped closer, gently placing a hand on his arm. "She spent three years at the Border Garrison. She’s tough as nails."

"If you make a healer examine her and they find absolutely nothing wrong, it’ll only embarrass her. How will she ever have the respect to lead the household after that?"

Just like that, the fleeting sympathy in Caspian’s eyes vanished, replaced by disgust.

"I've spoiled you," he sneered, dropping my wrist.

"You're throwing away all your pride and dignity just to get your way."

He scoffed, turning his back on me. "You like acting like a horse so much? Fine. Let's see how much you really like them."

Guards dragged me out to the Royal Equine Grounds and threw me into the dirt.

Caspian stood above me, his face dark as a thundercloud.

"Three years at the garrison must have taught you something useful," he demanded coldly.

He pointed to the enclosures. "Those stallions are wild tributes from the Western reaches. No one has been able to break them."

He crossed his arms. "Tame them. Do that, and I'll forgive you for this ridiculous stunt."

The massive horses were bucking and charging around the dirt ring, but as I lay there, they seemed to sense something.

They stopped running. Whinnying, they slowly began to circle me.

Driven by a twisted survival instinct forged entirely in the garrison stables, I crawled toward the closest stallion.

Instead of standing tall to command the beast, I leaned my head against the horse's coarse neck, instinctively submitting to it, nuzzling it like one of the herd.

From behind the fence, Lysette let out a horrified shriek.

"What kind of taming technique is that? This is a disgrace to the Crown!"

Before anyone could process what was happening, the wild stallion snapped its massive jaws and clamped down on my neck.

The pain was blinding. I froze, too terrified to even breathe.

Several royal guards looked away in disgust.

"The High Consort... she's pressing herself against the beast like a mare in..." a guard stammered, too terrified to finish the foul thought.

Caspian’s temper finally exploded. "Mirelle! You would sink this low just to spite me? Aren't you afraid I'll strip you of your title right now? Get away from that thing!"

But the stallion’s teeth were locked into my flesh.

I squeezed my eyes shut in total despair, waiting for the end.

Suddenly, a blur of motion swept past me.

Caspian vaulted the fence, his blade flashing in the sunlight.

In one brutal strike, he drove his sword straight through the stallion's throat.

The beast reared back in shock, tearing a chunk of flesh straight from my neck.

I hit the dirt, blood pouring over my collarbone.

Caspian collapsed to his knees beside me, his hands frantically pressing down on my torn throat to stop the bleeding. "Get a healer! Now!" he roared.

Lysette rushed to the fence, covering her mouth, her face pale. "Your Majesty, if word gets out about my sister acting so shamelessly with the beasts—"

"If a single word of this leaves this arena, I will carve out the tongues of everyone here!" Caspian snarled, his eyes wild and desperate.

He scooped me up into his arms and sprinted toward the nearest side chamber.

His chest heaved against mine.

"I pushed too far. I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice shaking with panic.

"Just hold on. Stay with me. If you make it through this, I swear I will make you Queen."

I gasped for air, choking on my own blood.

I wanted to tell him how much I regretted everything. I regretted entering the palace. I regretted ever crossing Lysette.

But when I opened my mouth, a hollow, breathless gasp was the only sound that came out.

Physician Barlow arrived moments later.

His hands worked quickly to stitch and bandage the gaping wound on my neck.

Once the bleeding stopped, Caspian demanded he do a full evaluation of my internal health.

Barlow checked my pulse to ensure I wasn't going into shock, then moved his hands to gently press my lower abdomen to check for internal bleeding.

Suddenly, his hands stiffened.

He hesitated, shutting his mouth and darting a nervous glance toward where Lysette was standing.

Lysette shot him a deadly, warning glare, then immediately twisted her face into an expression of fake worry.

"Is something wrong with my sister?" she asked softly.

Physician Barlow quickly pulled his hands away and dropped to his knees.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Barlow stammered, bowing his head to the heavy carpet. "The High Consort is in excellent physical condition. There is no internal damage..."

He took a shaky breath. "It is just... judging by the firm swelling in her lower abdomen and her physical state... Her Grace is roughly three months with child."